Sparks fly as driver leads police on merry chase

Tyre rims sparked, and a passenger jumped from the vehicle, as a driver led police on a 25-minute chase.

Details of the Hamilton chase were revealed when Winston Treanor, 22, appeared in Pukekohe District Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to a charge of reckless driving, failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified and driving with excess blood alcohol.

Information from a pre-sentence report and a summary of facts and obtained from the court states that on November 30 Treanor approached a drink driving checkpoint on Boundary Road, Hamilton.

He was signalled to stop, but drove through with police giving chase.

The chase carried on through several streets before police deployed road spikes at the roundabout on Heaphy Terrace. But Treanor didn’t stop, despite his tyres popping, instead increasing his speed to 75kmh in a 50kmh area.

Again police deployed spikes on Peachgrove Rd, and again Treanor increased his speed, this time to 100kmh, racing through intersections, making no attempt to slow for approaching traffic. During the chase Treanor’s brother was in the passenger seat of the car, begging him to stop the car.

The flat tyres caused rubber and sparks to fly from the rims of the vehicle as the car fishtailed and slowed to 30kmh as the engine revved to gain traction. Police watched as Treanor’s brother jumped from the moving Toyota Altezza before the car hit a raised median island garden on Cambridge Road.

As officers opened the car door and tried to pull Treanor from the vehicle his tyres caught traction and he sped away. The car continued to fishtail across both lanes, hitting the curb and centre island several times.

As the defendant approached the roundabout with Galloway Street the vehicle spun out 180 degrees causing the vehicle to face the wrong side of the road. Treanor began driving on the wrong side of the road, towards oncoming traffic, still, fishtailing causing his vehicle to collide with a police car and another civilian car.

But despite the collision Treanor continued driving, fishtailing down the wrong side of the road across both lanes.

Treanor eventually skid out, causing the vehicle to mount the curb, and get stuck. He was still revving the car, trying to get away, as police pulled him from the vehicle. A blood test showed Treanor had 137 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, over twice the legal limit. The police chase lasted 25 minutes.

Judge Wharepouri said the summary made for ‘‘appalling reading’’.

‘‘I note the pre-sentence report indicates a lack of remorse, a lack of insight, an inability to show empathy towards your passenger, other road users a nonchalant attitude towards the proceedings in general.’’

Treanor had one previous conviction for drunk driving in August 2018.

‘‘The fact that these charges should follow so quickly is a matter for some concern.’’ Despite this, he said Treanor’s criminal history was ‘‘limited’’.

‘‘I also note your relatively young age.’’ Wharepouri said the usual sentence would be jail or home detention, however, this would interfere with Treanor’s employment. Treanor was ordered to pay a $111.99 fine and sentenced to 150 hours community work and 12 months intensive supervision.

During this time he would be required to undergo drug and alcohol programmes.

‘‘You’re not a stranger to alcohol and other illicit substances which you have consumed since 16 years of age.’’